Three years ago we installed a major solar upgrade on our travel trailer. After dozens of camping trips and many miles down the road, we thought it was time to check back in with an honest review. In this post, we’ll discuss the upgrades we made, how the system has performed, whether we’ve run into any issues, and if we’d do it all over again.
Rogina Roaming is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Recap of Our Solar Upgrades
Here’s a quick rundown of the upgrades we made to the power system on our travel trailer:
- 300Ah Battle Born lithium batteries (three 100Ah batteries)
- Victron Multiplus 3000 inverter/charger
- MPPT solar charge controller (upgraded from PWM)
- 390 watts of solar on the roof
- Victron Cerbo GX system for real-time solar monitoring on a screen inside the trailer
Here is a complete list of the components we used for our trailer solar upgrade.
These upgrades turned our travel trailer into a much more capable and comfortable off-grid setup—especially for dry camping.
Performance Over Three Years
Dry camping with this system is a completely different experience—it’s no longer about “roughing it.” We now have access to most of the comforts we’d expect from full hookups, even when we’re parked off-grid. Bad weather is also not a concern. We have a large enough battery bank that we’re not constantly dependent on sunlight to recharge during a typical weekend trip.
Our standard trip is usually a long weekend—three nights max—and the system is more than enough for that. In fact, it could easily support longer trips (a week or more), especially with good sun. While our schedule doesn’t usually allow for extended trips, it’s reassuring to know the system could handle them.
Issues & Maintenance
We’re happy to report that in three years, we’ve had no major issues with the system. Everything has held up well, even after traveling many miles and dealing with road vibrations.
That said, keeping the solar panels clean is key. Our trailer is parked under a large oak tree, which leads to a regular buildup of debris on the panels. Dirty panels significantly reduce solar input, so routine cleaning has become an important part of our maintenance routine. It’s not a big deal—just something to be aware of if you’re considering solar.
Changes We’d Make
While we love our setup, there are a few things we would tweak if we could:
- Add a fourth battery: Our Victron inverter is designed for a 400Ah battery bank, but we only have 300Ah. While it’s been working just fine, we’d love the extra buffer—especially if we ever want to run higher-demand appliances like the air conditioner.
- Soft start for the A/C: Right now, we can’t run our air conditioner off the inverter. We plan to install a soft start so we can give it a try. This might be where we finally feel the limitation of having just 300Ah instead of 400Ah.
- Battery fitment: Space was the limiting factor when installing our three batteries. If we could find a 400Ah solution that fits in the same area under our bed, we’d consider switching. So far, though, the Battle Born batteries have performed flawlessly.
Advice for Other RVers
This setup is ideal for anyone who wants a more comfortable dry camping experience. With our system, we can use our microwave, plug in laptops, run fans, make smoothies, and watch TV—no compromises. It gives you flexibility and freedom, whether you’re dry camping at a state park or stopped at a rest area for lunch.
It’s worth noting that the system doesn’t currently power our air conditioner, but it handles everything else we need with ease. You can run ceiling vent fans, bring a plug-in fan, and stay cool enough in most situations.
We already enjoyed dry camping, and this system has just made it easier to get out more often and stay out longer. While it’s a “nice to have” rather than a “need to have,” we wouldn’t hesitate to install the same upgrades again on another trailer.
Conclusion
Three years in, our RV solar system has exceeded our expectations. We’ve had no major issues, enjoy the freedom to camp almost anywhere, and get tons of use out of the system year-round. Whether you’re just getting started with solar or considering an upgrade, we hope our experience helps you make a decision that works for your style of camping.
Happy camping!
